About the Birthplace

The Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace is perhaps the only “house museum”
in the nation created specifically for girls to enjoy—though it is
loved by everyone! At this unique house museum, owned and operated by
Girl Scouts of the USA, visitors can trace the arc of Juliette Gordon
Low’s life and the Girl Scout Movement she founded. The house stands
as a National Historic Landmark honoring the daughter, debutante,
wife, adventurer, and artist who became the first Girl Scout—our
beloved Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low.

Juliette was born here in 1860, and she lived in and visited the
house throughout her life. It was from this very home that she made
the famous phone call that marked the beginning of Girl Scouts in
1912, proclaiming, “I’ve got something for the girls of Savannah, and
all of America, and all the world, and we’re going to start tonight!”
That call sparked a wildfire in many hearts, inspiring more than 60
million girls to blaze new trails and see limitless potential for
their lives through their participation in Girl Scouts.

A Home of Their Own

In 1953, the house was saved from the threat of demolition when Girl
Scouts of the USA purchased the birthplace. In true Girl Scout style,
Girl Scouts then led a major fundraising effort to support the
incredible restoration project that followed. Girls from around the
world raised nickels, dimes, and dollars for Daisy, putting together
bake sales, community fairs, dinners, pageants, fashion shows, and
more to restore the birthplace to its original splendor.

In 1955, the national executive director of Girl Scouts, Dorothy
Stratton, laid out an extraordinary vision for the birthplace, writing:

Although the house itself is interesting … it is not primarily for
its historic interest that the Girl Scouts have bought it. Generally
speaking, it is not within our purview to own or restore old houses.
But this house is different. We are interested in restoring it in
order to help the citizens of our country, and particularly present
and future Girl Scouts, catch a bit of the fire and spirit and
determination of the young girl who began life within its walls and
whose character was largely formed during her life there.

… To be true to [Juliette’s] ideals and her plan for the girls of
the United States, the birthplace must provide opportunities for
girls to talk about their dreams, their ambitions… Here girls from
all parts of the USA and from neighboring countries to the north and
south, as well as from distant lands, may play and work and think together.

Just as Stratton envisioned, today tens of thousands of visitors come
to the house to “play and work and think together” every year,
exploring both the history and future of a movement first envisioned
by our beloved Daisy. And by connecting the site’s history with topics
relevant to today’s girls, we help ensure the birthplace will continue
to be meaningful to girls for generations to come.

We hope that you, too, will “catch a bit of the fire and spirit and
determination” of the young girl who began life within these walls—a
girl whose fire has since been reignited in millions of girls the
world over.

We’re 2.7 million strong—1.9 million girls and 800,000 adults who
believe girls can change the world.

It began over 100 years ago with one
woman, Girl Scouts’ founder Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low
who believed in the power of every girl. She organized the first Girl
Scout troop on March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, and every year
since, we’ve made her vision a reality, helping girls discover their
strengths, passions, and talents.

Today we continue the Girl Scout mission of building girls of
courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls.
And with programs for girls from coast to coast and across the globe,
Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to do something amazing.